Release

Release begins the moment a note is let go, regardless of which stage the envelope was in. It sets how gradually the sound fades from its current level down to silence. A short release cuts the sound off cleanly, keeping arrangements tight and avoiding overlap between notes. A long release lets tails ring out, creating smooth, connected phrases and a sense of space, though too much release can muddy fast passages by overlapping notes. On a filter envelope, release governs how the tone darkens as it fades. Matching release time to your tempo and the density of your part is key to sounds that feel intentional rather than either abrupt or smeared.